I don’t have a layout yet, but have a great collection of engines and rolling stock for when I get to building my RF&PRR. (RF&P and PRR) My control will be Digitrax Super Chief.
Question: Consisting an MU lashup of 3 Broadway Blueline’s: 1- SD7 and 2- SD9’s, what do you need to do so the lights operate accordingly, (ie. front light ON only on lead engine, rear light ON only on rear engine in reverse). Also can you still have sound from all 3 engines, or will just the lead engine produce sound? I’m guessing you need to configure the CV’s some how to do this?
The Blueline can be difficult to program at times. I do not have any of their diesels but I do have five of their steamers. The best decoders I have found for the Bluelines is the TCS T1 or MC2. Down load the diesel tech manual and read the chapter on easy consist set up.
It works for the steamers. As a side note I did not lock (CV15 & CV16) either decoder. If you lock either decoder than consisting will not work properly.
I have BLI’s C30-7’s. With MRC PRODIGY ADVANEC 2 SYSTEM you can program locos to a singal consist number in ops mode. You can even pick your own consist #'S 1-999. You can then recall each loco per road number in consist and set up the lights how you want them to be in your consist. then recall consist number and run your trains. The accell. and decell sounds will work on all locos in consist, if you have sound function on, but for bells and horns or other sound functions you will have to recall one of the locos individual addresses in consist to make them work. For myself this system is easy to use. Rather than trying to figure out CV’s . I spend my time running trains.
Do you know if the TCS decoders will work with Digitrax systems? I assume they will being they adhere to NMRA standards. What DCC are you running? I am set on Digitrax because my engine roster already have digitrax decoders, accept my 3 new BLI SD7 / 9’s.
I have an NCE Power Cab at home. Lenz at the club and run a Digitrax ? system at a friends house.
The TCS decoders will work with all DCC systems. They especialy work great on DC. Lighting FX are great. What I find is a good feature is the headlight auto dims when stopped and F4. Plus they have an adjustable dim voltage for LEDs or bulbs. I dont know if Digitrax has Back EMF motor control but all the newest TCS decoders has it.
I had concidered NCE, but I think I will stick with Digitrax, and yes their decoders have Back EMF. I’m looking at using the DN123IP for my Blueline SD’s.
I love the NCE system. After reading the quick start part of the book I have not seen the manual for 5 years. Its very easy to use and walk around to boot. It has programed and read every decoder put on the program track with out boosters. Upgrade is a chip change and not sending the unit in to the factory like other systems.
I kind of got turned off to Digitrax when 2 plug and play decoders fried on the program track and they would not warranty them for me. Out of 80 + decoder installs those were the only ones that have fried on me. That was about seven years ago and nothing I own says Digitrax. I still install them for people and club members.
I assume your using a radio throttle ("Its very easy to use and walk around to boot")? If so, how long does the throttle last before it needs charging? Can you charge it without removing the batteries? AA? 9 volt? Can you select another loco address using radio, without “tethering up”? Out of the 80 or so decoders, your saying only 2 digitrax decoders fried? Whas that using the NCE to program them?
The Power Cab is tethered with a 7 foot long flat 6 conductor wire with telco ends. My home layout is a shelf point to point consisting of HO scale modules. 6 feet one way and 4 feet the other with a corner module.
The clubs Lenz program track was used at the time the decoders fried. Its funny how the same night I plugged in 2 TCS decoders in the same locomotives and programed them with out them smoking. Program track is current limited to avoid that problem.